Chennai, India-based WellGro Technology has recently developed highly biodegradable oil absorbent pads and mats for oil spill remediation. This development comes as more attention is being focused on plastics cluttering marine environments, paving the way for sustainable alternatives to synthetic sorbents.

WellGro sorbent showed that in 120 days, it degrades, according to soil burial test undertaken by an accredited laboratory in South India.

WellGro Tech has recently been recognized as a qualified supplier of pollution control equipment and spares by the Indian Coast Guard, which is the central coordinating agency for oil spill response.

The oil absorbent was evaluated earlier in a paddy field in the Cauvery river delta region in the southern state of Tamilnadu, which has rich oil resource. Oil spills in the paddy fields of the Cauvery delta region due to oil transport pipeline breakages has been a frequent occurrence and hence stakeholders are looking for effective oil spill remediation techniques.

R. NambiSrinivasan of WellGro Tech while commenting about the Indian Coast Guard’s recognition says, “This is not just about oil sorbent alone but we are meeting the compliance process and parameters as set by the Coast Guard.”

While biodegradable products have many advantages, cost is a challenge when compared with cheaper synthetics. The industry has to work hard to convince the stakeholders in gaining acceptability of sustainable green oil absorbent products.

Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies. You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.